Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

"This is the TND360 CNC lathe that we, Nanjing Machine Tool Factory, co-produce with the German company TRAUB. It's at a world-leading level. Using this kind of machine tool to produce parts, the precision can also reach a world-class level!" Liu Jianyong, the director of Nanjing Machine Tool Factory, said, pointing to the equipment in front of him: "Director Xing, Director Wei, you really have an eye for quality."

Looking at the high-tech product in front of him, Xing Fubin cautiously touched the keyboard a few times, then didn't dare to move anymore, for fear of breaking it. Wei Man asked, "We have already completed the calculation formula for the part's shape. Without producing part drawings, as long as we use this machine tool, can we process it?"

"Of course, that's what CNC machine tools are for. In the West, they use paperless production. They stopped using outdated drawings long ago," Liu Jianyong nodded.

"Okay, let's buy one and take it back. How much does it cost?"

"One million five hundred thousand."

"So expensive? Ordinary machine tools are only one hundred thousand or two hundred thousand. Adding CNC equipment, is doubling the price not enough? You're too greedy, aren't you?"

"Gentlemen, you don't know. This machine tool is a joint venture between us and Germany. Our machine tool factory only produces the main body of the machine tool. The electronic equipment on it is all provided by Germany. These imported equipment are worth seven or eight hundred thousand. We also have to share a certain amount of profit. How about this, if you want it, we'll sell it to you for one million four hundred thousand."

"A cost of one million, and you sell it for one million four hundred thousand. Isn't that too much of a rip-off?" Xing Fubin was still not satisfied.

"Everyone, do you think it's still the old days? Can we sell at cost price? Do you know how many mouths our factory has to feed? Do you know how much money our factory spent to find a German company for a joint venture? Do you think this four hundred thousand is all profit? Do you know how much money we spend on research and development? Shouldn't this money be allocated to the products? Doesn't your factory invest in research and development?"

This barrage of questions made Xing Fubin and Wei Man blush a little. Research and development does require money. Even if they were only doing reverse engineering, they would have to spend money, let alone forward research and development.

That being said, if they gave Factory 960 a 10% profit, that would be appropriate. Knowledge is wealth, after all.

"Okay, we agree to this price. However, we only have two hundred thousand now. We need to produce products and get the payment back before we can settle the bill with you."

"No problem."

Hearing the other party agree so readily, the two were curious. Weren't they afraid that they wouldn't pay back the money?

"Okay, then ship it to us immediately. We're in a hurry to use it!" Since the other party agreed, they had to quickly seal the deal.

A few days later, the machine tool from Nanjing was finally installed in the workshop of Factory 9123. Liu Jianyong personally led the team to install and debug it. This factory director had some skills.

It took half a day to finally get it done.

Watching the other party sign the acceptance document, Liu Jianyong spoke again.

"Now that the machine tool is given to you, you can operate it normally for a month. Within a month, you have to pay us the final payment, otherwise the machine tool system will be locked and you will not be able to continue using it. This one month is enough for you to complete production and get the payment back, right? Of course, we also value relationships. If you can't raise all the money, you can give us a few hundred thousand first."

The two immediately understood: They weren't afraid of not getting the final payment. Anyway, when the time came, the machine wouldn't work! They could even do this!

Although they were unhappy, they had no other choice. Wei Man said, "As long as we can start production, we can get orders and make money. By the way, how do you use this machine?"

"You don't know how to use it?" Liu Jianyong was surprised. "Didn't you send workers for training?"

"We only process one kind of part," Wei Man said. "Director Liu, please help us enter these formulas. We just need to turn on the machine, load and unload materials, right?"

"Okay, I know a little bit. Since you have this need, then I will give you…" Liu Jianyong said, taking the manuscript paper handed over by Wei Man. Looking at the densely packed formulas on it, Liu Jianyong felt a headache: "If it's an ordinary part, I can still operate it, but I've never even seen anything like this! Not only me, but probably no one in our country knows how to do it!"

Wei Man was dumbfounded: "No one in our country knows how to do it?"

"That's right. Do you think these formulas can be entered directly? You need to break down these formulas and simulate them with complex algorithms. You also need to calculate the movement of each cutting tool. The programming for your part can only be taught by a German consultant."

A bolt from the blue struck in the two people's minds.

Both were stunned: "Programming also costs money?"

"Of course, knowledge is wealth!" Liu Jianyong said: "This CNC machine tool is just hardware. It also needs a program to run. The program is like a master craftsman. Without the program, it's just a lump of iron. If it's an extremely complex part, the money spent on programming may be more expensive than the CNC machine tool."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"How would I know that you didn't understand CNC machine tools and just ran over to buy one! What, can't you figure it out? If you don't want it, we can take the machine tool away, but the deposit of two hundred thousand won't be refunded. This trip back and forth cost us a lot, and the machine will become second-hand when we take it back. There will be depreciation fees."

Of course, they couldn't return it. Wouldn't that be a waste of all their efforts?

Xing Fubin gritted his teeth: "Can we pay on credit first? After the foreigners debug the program for us, we produce the parts and earn money, and then we can settle the bill with the foreigners."

Three hundred thousand marks, six hundred thousand yuan. For the future of the factory, this money still needs to be paid.

"Pay on credit with foreigners? How is that possible?" Liu Jianyong shook his head repeatedly: "To invite foreigners over, you have to have foreign exchange in hand. You have to buy them plane tickets and the like. After they come, the foreigners will ask for a price after seeing the requirements. You have to give them money on the spot before they will do it. You actually want to pay on credit? They are foreigners, not your class brothers."

Wei Man only felt his eyes beginning to blur, then slowly turning black. Before losing consciousness, he seemed to hear exclamations.

"Engineer Wei!"

"Old Wei!"

When he opened his eyes again, he was already in a hospital bed. An IV drip was dripping liquid drop by drop. At the door of the ward, there were figures walking back and forth.

"Old Wei, you're awake?" Xing Fubin turned his head and saw Wei Man, and immediately became excited.

"Yeah, Old Xing, are we, are we already at our wit's end?" Wei Man's heart was bitter when he said this.

The hole was getting bigger and bigger. Now it was impossible to fix it!

"I heard that Factory 960 is also using CNC machine tools. We have to disregard our old faces and invite Engineer Qin over!"